Madison Bumgarner comes to rescue for Giants

San Diego Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera leaps and looks to throw out San Francisco Giants' Buster Posey on his way to first during the seventh inning in a baseball game Thursday, July 11, 2013, in San Diego. Posey was safe at first on the play. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

SAN DIEGO -- The Giants had the right pitcher on the mound Thursday night at Petco Park and the right team in the opposing dugout.

Madison Bumgarner shook off a rough first inning to dominate the San Diego Padres and lead the Giants to a 4-2 win. The victory snapped a four-game losing streak and was just the second win in 10 games for the Giants, and it was no surprise that Bumgarner was the one to toe the rubber. The Giants are 5-1 in Bumgarner's last six starts and just 2-18 with anyone else on the mound during that span.

They have similar splits against the Padres, going 3-0 against the division rival since June 18 but winning just three of 19 games against everybody else.

"We needed the lift," manager Bruce Bochy said. "We needed a win in the worst way. This was so important for them to start this road trip like this. (Bumgarner) gave us seven solid innings and a much, much needed win."

Bumgarner gave up two runs in the first inning but retired 15 straight before Carlos Quentin's single in the sixth. He didn't allow another base runner while getting through exactly seven innings for the sixth straight start. Pitching for a team that is nine games under .500, Bumgarner finished the first half with a 10-5 record and 3.02 ERA. His next stop will be Tuesday's All-Star game.

"I feel like everybody always wants to do better than they did," Bumgarner said. "I feel pretty good about (the first half), but there's definitely a lot of things that could have been better."

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In a clubhouse that was thumping with victory music for one of the few times in recent weeks, Bumgarner's teammates weren't going to let him downplay his importance.

"We've been spoiled in the past with performances like tonight's with our starting pitching," closer Sergio Romo said. "For Bumgarner to do it tonight is big for us. We really, really needed it."

Romo picked up his 21st save of the season with a perfect ninth inning, capping a night that looked like the kind of baseball the Giants have grown accustomed to the last four years. The Giants got a solo home run from Pablo Sandoval, his first in 101 at-bats, and then tied the game in the sixth when Kensuke Tanaka lined a single up the middle with the bases loaded. The Japanese veteran was called up from Triple-A Fresno this week and scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning on a Gregor Blanco double.

"He looks comfortable up here," Bochy said of Tanaka. "He has a lot of experience. It's nice to get a little shot in the arm, which he has given us. I'm happy for him. He worked hard to get to this point and he earned the promotion."

A day after pulling Matt Cain with two outs in the first inning, Bochy again insisted the right-hander is healthy. The Giants discovered elbow fragments early in Cain's career, and Bochy said Cain probably still has them. "But it hasn't affected him as far as I know," Bochy said. "He's fine. From my perspective, (on Wednesday) he just came off a start where he worked pretty hard. Now you're back out there and you walked some guys. I didn't want to take any chances."

Ryan Vogelsong threw 30 pitches, all fastballs, during his first bullpen session since having surgery on a fractured finger. "Felt good. Hand is good, arm is good," Vogelsong said. "I've just got to get some timing back."

Hunter Pence finished third in the Final Vote contest held to determine the last All-Star in each league. Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman won the spot, edging Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Yasiel Puig. Pence said there was no disappointment. "I'm really happy for Freddie, honestly," Pence said. "Freddie is very deserving."

According to Major League Baseball, the most popular jersey during the season's first half has been Buster Posey's No. 28. The list is based on sales of Majestic jerseys from MLB.com.